(A) Purpose. The A-1 District is intended to provide for certain agricultural uses that, because of location, population densities, and other land use factors, must necessarily be located and adjacent to lesser land use intensities, and with proper control, these areas should become compatible with and maintain the value of properties and uses adjacent to them.
(B) Intent. It is the intent of this section to provide that agriculture and related activities shall be established and maintained with neat and proper appearance from streets and adjoining properties and to provide that each such permitted use shall be a good neighbor to adjoining properties.
(C) Permitted uses. Within an A-1, no building or land shall be used, and no building shall be erected, structurally altered, converted, or enlarged except for one or more of the following uses:
(1) Commercial agriculture and horticulture, except feedlots;
(2) Single-family residence;
(3) Drainage and irrigation systems as permitted by MPCA, MNDNR, SWCD, and the City of Wadena Wellhead Protection Plan;
(4) Roadside stand for the sale of agricultural products;
(5) Essential utility services including necessary appurtenant equipment and structures;
(6) Churches and schools;
(7) Municipal buildings;
(8) Home occupations;
(9) Veterinarian clinics and animal hospitals;
(10) Accessory uses including any incidental structures, buildings or machinery necessary to conduct of a permitted use, including private garages, animal shelters, and storage buildings for the use of the occupants of the principal structure; and
(11) Keeping of farm animals as described in § 130.06, at the rate of one animal unit per acre, based on the most current University of Minnesota animal unit equivalent measure.
(D) Uses by conditional use permit. Within an A-1, no building or land shall be used for one or more of the following uses except by conditional use permit:
(1) Cemeteries;
(2) Retail and service establishments of an essential or convenience nature;
(3) Mining, sand, and gravel operations; or
(4) Wholesale nursery and garden supply operations.
(E) Height, yard frontage, area, and lot coverage regulations.
(1) Height regulations. No building shall be erected to exceed a height of three stories, except that buildings permitted in this District may be erected to greater heights if the building is set back from each required yard line at least one more foot for each foot of additional height above 35 feet.
(2) Front yard regulations. There shall be a front yard having a depth of not less than 50 feet between building and the street right-of-way line, except where the district abuts or adjoins residence districts across the street, there shall be a front yard having a depth of not less than 75 feet.
(3) Side yard regulations.
(a) There shall be two side yards, one on each side of a building.
(b) Each side yard shall be not less than 20 feet in width, except where the district abuts or adjoins residence districts, the side yard abutting said residence district shall be not less than 75 feet in width.
(4) Rear yard regulations. There shall be a rear yard not less than 50 feet in depth, except where lots abut railroad siding and where the districts abut or adjoin residence districts, there shall be a rear yard of not less than 100 feet in depth.
(5) Lot area regulations. Every individual lot, site or tract shall have an area of not less than two acres.
(6) Minimum district area regulations.
(a) No A-1 shall be established on any tract, which is less than 20 acres.
(b) This requirement may be waived if the tract is in single ownership or under unified control where tract abuts or adjoins at least 25% of the perimeter of an A-1.
(7) Frontage regulations. Every lot or tract shall have a width of not less than 250 feet abutting a public right-of-way.
(8) Lot coverage regulations. Not more than 20% of the total area of a lot shall be covered by buildings.
(F) Performance standards. The performance standards of the A-1 shall be those of § 152.29(E), except that measurement or determination of noise, odor, and vibration shall be made at the boundary of the A-1 rather than at the property line of the use concerned.
(G) Regulations on screening, landscaping, lighting, storage, and outdoor displays. The regulations shall be those of § 152.29(F) as regulated therein.
(H) Building design and construction.
(1) In addition to other restrictions of this chapter and any other provision of this code of ordinances, any building or structure within the A-1 District shall meet the following standards:
(a) All exterior walls finished on any building shall be any single one or combination of the following:
1. Face brick;
2. Concrete block;
3. Natural stone;
4. Wood, metal, cement board, or vinyl siding;
5. Factory fabricated and finished metal framed panel construction, if the panel materials are any of those named above, glass, pre-finished metal (other than unpainted galvanized iron), or plastic; and
6. Other material as may be approved by the Council.
(2) All subsequent additions and outbuildings constructed after the erection of an original building or buildings shall be designed in a manner conforming and harmonizing with the original architectural design and general appearance.
(3) Any other exterior wall finishes, or any changes in architectural design must be approved by the Council.
(4) Signs as regulated in § 152.55.
(5) Off-street parking and loading as regulated in § 152.56(B) and (C).
(Ord. 235, 3rd Series, passed 4-13-2021)